Schuylkill River Sojourn Registration Now Open

Schuylkill River Sojourners arrive in Pottstown's Memorial Park

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area

Registration is now open for the Schuylkill River Heritage Area’s 19th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn.

The Schuylkill River Sojourn is a 112-mile, weeklong guided canoe and kayak trip down the river planned for June 3-9. Registration opened on March 31 for full-trip registrants only. Partial trip registration, for those signing up for one to six days of the sojourn, opened April 7.

Now, entering its 19th year, the sojourn takes place annually during the first full week of June. The trip begins each year in Schuylkill Haven and ends seven days later at Boathouse Row in Philadelphia. Participants sign up for all or part of the trip and paddle 14-18 miles per day, stopping for lunch and camping overnight at parks along the way.

Each year, the sojourn incorporates programs and presentations at all lunch and evening stops that focus on the culture, history or environment of the river and the region. This year, the sojourn programming theme is “I Protect the Schuylkill River,” emphasizing river conservation.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has organized the sojourn since 1999. Over

the years the annual event has grown increasingly popular, and has introduced over 3,500 registrants from 25 states, Canada, France and Switzerland to paddling the Schuylkill.

Last year, a record 79 paddlers completed the entire 112-mile journey, while more than 100 others participated in one or more days. This year about 200 paddlers are expected to join in all or part of the sojourn.

Anyone wishing to participate in the Schuylkill River Sojourn is encouraged to register early, as space is limited. For safety reasons, a maximum of 100-110 boats are permitted on the water each day. For more information on the sojourn visit the Schuylkill River Heritage Area website at http://www.schuylkillriver.org/Sojourn.aspx or call 484-945-0200

For the second year in a row, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area has two scholarship opportunities for three people to participate at no cost. The Bill Trace Memorial Scholarship for first time sojourners will cover the cost of a single day on the sojourn for two people who have never before participated. The Schuylkill Steward scholarship is a full-week award given to an individual who will help with blogging, wildlife photographs and water quality testing along the river.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area will also host six Pedal and Paddle events from May through September that will take participants on a round-trip biking/kayaking adventure along the river and Schuylkill River Trail. The first event is planned for May 20.

Visit the Schuylkill River Heritage Area’s website at www.schuylkillriver.org for more details on the sojourn or pedal and paddles.

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, uses conservation, education, recreation, historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development